Manuscripts

[James Montgomery, Scottish hymn writer, poet, editor and abolitionist.] Signed Autograph Inscription to John Holland of Sheffield Park.

Author: 
James Montgomery (1771-1854), Scottish hymn writer, poet and editor, based in Sheffield, abolitionist and campaigner against child exploitation [John Holland of Sheffield Park]
Montgomery
Publication details: 
27 October 1821.
£65.00
Montgomery

See his entry in the Oxford DNB. On one side of irregular sheet of blue-grey paper, roughly landscape 12mo, evidently used as a cover to a package. In fair condition, lightly aged and creased. In Montomery’s untidy hand, at foot, with a fragment of a red wax seal: ‘With J Montgomerys respects / and a Volume of the / Sheffd Register & the / 1793-4 / Oct. 27. 1821 [seal]’. Above this, neatly, in another hand: ‘Mr. John Holland / Sheffield Park. / To the care of Mr. James Montgomery, / Hawkshead, Sheffield / Paid.’

[Daughter of a drug smuggler and mother of a president: Sara Roosevelt, mother of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.] Signed Autograph Inscription (‘Sara D Roosevelt’), proclaiming that she is ‘mother of President Franklin D Roosevelt’.

Author: 
Sara Roosevelt [Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt] (1854-1941), mother of President of the United States Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the mother-in-law of Eleanor Roosevelt
Roosevelt
Publication details: 
11 July 1934. Place not stated.
£45.00
Roosevelt

On 11.5 x 7.5 cm leaf, with rounded outer edges, extracted from an autograph album. In good condition, lightly aged. Written at the head of the recto, the rest of the leaf being blank: ‘Sarah D Roosevelt - (Mrs James Roosevelt, Sen.) / mother of President Franklin D. Roosevelt / July 11th. 1934’. See image.

[W. H. K. Wright: Victorian armorial bookplates.] Two Original Illustrations of Designs for Armorial Bookplates, one ‘Presented to Mr Edward Morrall Quay House Bridgenorth’.

Author: 
W. H. K. Wright [William Henry Kearley Wright], (1844-1915), poet, editor of the Western Antiquary [Victorian armorial bookplates; Edward Morrall of Quay House, Bridgnorth; M. J. Morrall]
Wright
Publication details: 
Without date or place, but late Victorian.
£120.00
Wright

Each of the two items attributed to Wright in pencil note on reverse. Both in good condition, lightly aged. ONE: On 11 x 17.5 cm piece of paper. At head: ‘Book Plate of Morrall A[?] vox stellarum vox Dei’. At foot: ‘M. J. Morrall’. (Unlikely to be the Brooklyn architect of this name active at this time.) Up left-hand margin: ‘Mr. Edward Morrall / Mayor 1885-6’. Down right-hand margin: ‘Presented to Mr Edward Morrall Quay House Bridgnorth’. Full achievement, from crest to motto, with colours indicated. TWO: On back of 9 x 11 cm printed ‘at Home’ card.

[‘One of the very best comedians of the generation.’] Autograph Note Signed by Nelson Keys, with holograph poem by ‘G. L.’ and Signed Note by ‘Gordon’ for actress playing ‘Spirit of Spring’ in Arthur Wimperis revue at C. B. Cochran's London Pavilion.

Author: 
Nelson Keys [Nelson Waite Keys, ‘Bunch’] (1887-1939), actor and comedian, father of the film-maker John Paddy Carstairs (1910-1970) [Arthur Wimperis; C. B. Cochran; London Pavilion]
Keys
Publication details: 
Poem by ‘G[ordon]. L.’ dated 20 June 1921. [London Pavilion.]
£80.00
Keys

Keys features in his son’s entry in the Oxford DNB. (John Paddy Carstairs was christened Nelson John Keys.) Three theatrical autographs - Nelson Keys, ‘G. L.’ and ‘Gordon’ - on one side of a 25 x 20.5 cm piece of card. Apparently a gift from fellow cast-members to the actress playing the ‘Spirit of Spring’ in the Arthur Wimperis sketch ‘The Queen of Hearts’, in the C. B. Cochran London Pavilion revue ‘London, Paris and New York’, which ran for 366 performances between 1920 and 1921. J. P.

[‘The last production of the late Mr. Dutton Cook’.] Corrected Autograph Manuscript of Edward Dutton Cook’s last story ‘ “Columbines all of a Row” ’, completed within days of his death and published in 'Hood's Comic Annual'. Signed: ‘Dutton Cook’.

Author: 
Dutton Cook [Edward Dutton Cook] (1829-1883), author, journalist, artist, engraver, drama critic of the Pall Mall Gazette [Hood's Comic Annual]
Dutton Cook
Publication details: 
Undated, but written in 1883. Addressed in autograph at head: ‘Dutton Cook / 69 Gloucester Crescent. N.W’.
£250.00
Dutton Cook

For information on Cook see his biography in the Oxford DNB, which points out that the subtlety of his later fiction was lost on his contemporaries, being written in a style that ‘was not sufficiently sensational’ for the period. The present item is the complete text of the last thing Cook ever wrote: a story which appeared in the weeks following his death, in Hood’s Comic Annual for 1884 (London, 1883).

[Medical; Prescriptions; France] Manuscript: entitled Etat des medicaments Livres pour les pauvres de la Commun de Beaudours pendant le Courant de l'annee 1818 par [?] Pousset, pharmacien a St Ghislaine

Author: 
[Medical; Prescriptions; France]
Medical
Medical 2
Publication details: 
[1819]
£250.00
Medical
Medical 2

In French. Eleven pages, sm. fol., bifoliums, unbound, sl. dulled but good condition, text clear. A listing in columns: Patient; prescription (medicine given); cost. See Images of Pages [1] and [11]

[Jim Mollison, aviator] Signature Only J A Mollison.

Author: 
J.A. Mollison [Jim Mollison], James Allan Mollison (1905 – 1959), Scottish pioneer aviator, married to Amy Johnson.
Aviator
Publication details: 
No place or date given [c.1938?].
£45.00
Aviator

Signature only on scrap of paper, uneven edges,c.12 x 7.5 cm, tipped on to sl. larger page from an autograph album, sl. faded as if ink in pen running out. See image. The signature of Arthur J, Cummings, journalist and author is on the reverse, dated 20 Sept. 1938.

[Aberdeen Shoemaker's Stock and Equipment, 1838] [MANUSCRIPT] Roup [Auction] Account of the Stock in Trade which belonged to Mr. Andrew Affleck Shoemaker sold in his Shop Union Street Aberdeen | 19th and 20th March 1838.

Author: 
[Aberdeen Shoemaker's Stock and Equipment, 1838]
Shoemaker
Shoemaker2
Publication details: 
[Aberdeen, 1838]
£250.00
Shoemaker
Shoemaker2

Eight Pages, sm. fol., two bifoliums, fold marks, good condition. Stock and Cobblers' Equipment listed with quantities and sums achieved. Headings: Pair Prunella Shoes; Prunella Boots, Cloth Boots [...] Leather Shoes, Boots, Gents Boots, Wellington Boots, Blucher Boots, Slippers [...], Grindstone (x 9), Cutting Board (x18), Logs, Lasts, Boothooks, etc. etc. See Images

[The Panel, Any Questions (Radio)] Signatures of F.H. Freddie Grisewood, Isobel Barnett, Bronowski and others

Author: 
The Panel. Any Questions? November 25, 1960 Tatworth. Freddie Grisewood, Isobel Barnett, Ralph Wightman, J. Bronowski, A.N. Other and Producer Michael Bowen .
Any questions
Publication details: 
[Tatworth, 25 Nov. 1960]
£100.00
Any questions

Page extracted from autograph album, 15 x 10cm, right edge rough, ow good condition. See image. The inks (green particularly) don't respond well to the camera.

[Mary L. Armitt, polymath] MANUSCRIPT: Draft of the Index (ONLY) to her book, The Church of Grasmere: a history, published posthumously..

Author: 
Mary L. Armitt [Mary Louisa Armitt (1851 -1911), polymath, teacher, writer, ornithologist and philanthropist, and founder of the Armitt Library, Ambleside.]
Grasmere
Publication details: 
Book published in Kendal, 1912. See scan of sample page.
£380.00
Grasmere

Sixteen pages (two are half pages), fol., some foxing, but text clear. The text is in a large hand, with additions and occasional corrections for example, the word out is written beside 'Eighteen, the see Sidesmen', itself crossed out.

[Antonia Fraser; International P.E.N.] Typed Agenda, heavily doodled by Lady Fraser, for a Meeting of the Executive Committee of the English Centre of International P.E.N.

Author: 
[Antonia Fraser] Antonia Fraser [Lady Antonia Margaret Caroline Fraser (née Pakenham; born 27 August 1932), author of history, novels, biographies and detective fiction]
Antonia
Publication details: 
To be held at Dilke Street at 5.00 P.M. on Wednesday, 29th June 1983.
£125.00
Antonia

One page, sm. folio, fold marks, very small closed tears, basically good condition. The Agenda (typescript) includes: Apologies; Minutes of the Last Meeting, Matters Arising [...]; Date of next meeting; Candidates; Report of Meeting of Assembly of Delegates in Venice; Caracas Conference; Honorary Members in Prison; Death of Bela Menczer [...]; Any Other Business. Lady Fraser has put a tick or cross beside each item except Any Other Business.

[M.E. Grant Duff; India] Appointment Certificate Signed M E Grant Duff.

Author: 
Sir Mountstuart Elphinstone Grant Duff (1829 – 1906), Scottish politician, administrator and author. Sometime Under-Secretary of State for India.
Grant Duff
Publication details: 
Dated 8 July 1872.
£80.00
Grant Duff

One page, 4to, part printed, part manuscript, minor damage on fold marks, loss of small part of the word is, small closed tear, some weakness on fold marks. See Image. Text headed Ecclesiastical Establishment | No.

[Arabic Calligraphy; handwritten] The Creed of Sheikh al-Dardiri in Arabic.

Author: 
[Arabic Calligraphy; Mohamed Ahmed Ibin Alhaj Mohamed Ahmed Abu Qaseesah, calligrapher] Sheikh al-Dardiri
Arabic
al-dardiri
Publication details: 
[My translator says the year 1797 appears in the script.]
£450.00
Arabic
al-dardiri

I am obliged to a multi-lingual friend for the information I give. Eight pages, pages 7/8 blank, not paginated,12mo, unbound, stains on title and its verso not affecting text. See images. Titled This is the creed of sheikh al-Dardiri. Al-Dardiri was born in 1715 AD in Asyoot in Egypt. He's one of the imams of the Sunni Islam of Maliki school of thought. This document was written by Mohamed Ahmed Ibin Alhaj Mohamed Ahmed Abu Qaseesah in 1797. It discusses the twenty attributes in Sunni Islam that are obligatory for God Almighty, according to Al-Dardiri.

[Eliza Conder, poet and abolitionist] Holograph Poem with quotation from St Mark's Gospel.

Author: 
Eliza Conder, poet and abolitionist, wife of Josiah Conder, editor, abolitionist, well-connected to Romantic authors of his day
Conder
Publication details: 
Watermark 1827.
£180.00
Conder

One page, folio, signs of extraction from album (left margin has residue of separation), good condition, in her calligraphic writing, good condition. She begins by quoting St Mark's Gospel, Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of, for a memorial fo her.

[Vellum Deed] Indenture between Totnes Corporation to Daniel Marriott, vintner ...18 Sept.[1719]. Signed by Mayor and Councillors. WITH town seal in good condition. See images.

Author: 
[Totnes; Mayor; Corporation] See images.
Totnes
Totnes2
Publication details: 
18 Sept. 1719
£350.00
Totnes
Totnes2

Vellum Deed, c.70 x 55cm, folded as usual, signs of age but text clear and complete, with town seal with small cracks but intact. The reverse contains a memorandum signed by the Mayor and his Burgesses: Totnes Guildhall viiith Sept.

[Charles Pratt; America; Plantations] Section only of MS. Document (Secretarial text) Signed C. Pratt, memorialist as Attorney-General, concerning the Commissioners of Prizes and Plantations in America

Author: 
Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden (1714-1794) judge and politician.
Camden
Camden1
Publication details: 
Lincolns Inn Fields, 3 Dec. 1759.
£280.00
Camden
Camden1

Surviving section 20 x 10cm, closed tears 2.5cm, edges sl. ragged, foxing but text fully legible. See images.

[Golfers of the 30s] Signatures of Johnny Bulla (American), C.A. Whitcomb (English), Jimmy Adams (Scottish) and four others (not deciphered but see image).

Author: 
Golfers of the 30s.
Golfers
Publication details: 
Prob. 1930s.
£65.00
Golfers

Leaf removed from autograph album, 13.5 x 11cm, one rough edge (from removal), pencilled, minor stain, good condition.

[Valentín Gómez Farías; Mexico] Signature with final flourish only. See image.

Author: 
Valentin Gomez Farias [(1781 – 1858), President of Mexico twice.].
Mexico
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£350.00
Mexico

Piece of paper 9 x 2.5cm, laid down on slightly larger card, with docketing President 1835, sl. grubby but clear and bold. Notes (from Wikipedia): A. President of Mexico during two main periods: one in the early 1830s and one in the late 1840s, when he served as president during the Mexican-American War. In his first term, he enacted significant liberal reforms that were aimed at undermining the power of the Roman Catholic Church and the army in Mexico ; The Mexican Cession consisted of present-day U.S.

[Domhnall MacEacharn; Gaelic Poet] Autograph Lines in Gaelic signed 'Domhnall MacEacharn'.

Author: 
Domhnall MacEacharn [Donald MacKechnie]
Gaelic
Publication details: 
No place or date.
£56.00
Gaelic

Paper, 11 x 7cm, probably from an album (another signature on reverse (Florence Steel)), laid down on larger piece of paper, on the dingy side but text clear and apparently complete. Docketed Donald MacKechnie | Gaelic Poet.

[Bishop Alexander Cameron and others; Manuscript] Heritable Bond signed on every page by Bishop Alexander Cameron, Alexander Badenoch, Alexander Dick (accountant), George Brown (lawyer), James Francis Kyle (became RC Bishop in 1827)

Author: 
Dr Alexander Cameron [(1747–1828), Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Lowland District, Scotland]., and Others
Edinburgh
Publication details: 
Edinburgh, 1814
£120.00
Edinburgh

MS.11 pages, folio, bound with string, last page dusted and grubby, mainly good condition. All pages have the five signatures. Image of first page available.

[Henry Mackenzie, Scottish Novelist] Autograph Signature Henry Mackenzie 1824 only. With the relevant page (Mackenzie entry) from a Biographical dictionary

Author: 
Henry Mackenzie (1745 – 1831), Scottish lawyer, novelist and writer.
Mackenzie
Publication details: 
[1824]
£150.00
Mackenzie

Two 12mo pages, extracted from Public Characters of All Nations: Consisting of Biographical accounts of nearly three thousand eminent contemporaries, alphabetically arranged (1823), later published as A New Biographical Dictionary, of 3000 contemporary public characters, British and foreign, of all ranks and professions (1825).LEAF THE FIRST: endpaper, foxed, edges chipped, with the clear signature Henry Mackenzie | 1824 | on recto; LEAF THE SECOND: printed potted biography of Henry Mackenzie (pp.671-2 of book), with MS additions and corrections (for example, correction of his date of birt

[Alexander McKee; post-war Germany] Spearmen of the North. A Record of Public History and Private Opinion in Germany 1945-1954, typescript

Author: 
Alexander McKee [Alexander Paul Charrier McKee (1918 – 1992), journalist, military historian, and diver.]
Publication details: 
Unpublished.
£550.00

60pp., 4to, crude card binding, damp-stained and worn at spine, typescript aged, damp-stained but clear. Sub-title: A Record of Public History and Private Opinion in Germany 1945-1954 | and an attempt at analysis of the German character as it appeared to a soldier of the British Army of the Rhine.

[R.D. Laing] Substantial Typed Letter Signed Alec Jenner [Professor F.A. Jenner] to Dr. Laing [R.D. Laing] hoping to have further conversations and discussing a case of schizophrenia at length. WITH: Notes in Laing's hand.

Author: 
Professor F.A. Jenner [R.D. Laing (Ronald David Laing, Scottish psychiatrist who wrote extensively on mental illness)]
Laing
Publication details: 
[Headed] The University of Sheffield, Department of Psychiatry, The Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2JF, 9 May 1980
£250.00
Laing

Jenner Typed Letter Signed: Two pages, fol., fold marks, small closed tears on folds, ow good condition. He (and his team) would appreciate Laing's coming to dinner since they are starting to think about schizophrenia in something like the way you have seen it for a long time [...] In particular we are in the middle of what might be called humanistic studies of a mere handful of to us extremely interesting 'schizophrenic' persons.

[E.M. Almedingen, writer] A Substantial Collection of Manuscript and Typed Material from her Papers

Author: 
E. M. Almedingen (born Marta Aleksandrovna Almedingen, also known as Martha Edith Almedingen or von Almedingen; 1898 – 1971), British novelist, biographer, children's author, poet, of Russian origin.
Publication details: 
C.1943-1972
£1,500.00

1. Untitled Typescript. Author Unknown. An unpublished biography of E.M. Almedingen, 123pp., sm. folio, in black lever arch file, very good condition, a scattering of MS. corrections and additions.2. Seven mainly bulging Notebooks and Scrapbooks, (All my own), the Notebooks numbered I, II & III, 1943 and 1953, and the Scrapbooks numbered I, II, IV & V. (1949 and 1952 (2)).

[ Stanley Spencer ] Manuscript (Holograph) entitled Stanley Spencer.

Author: 
[ Stanley Spencer ] Daphne Charlton, artist and woman in Stanley Spencer's Life.
Spencer
Spencer 2
Publication details: 
Dated 27 May 1962.
£2,000.00
Spencer
Spencer 2

14 pages, 4to, large handwriting (lower case letters 5mm), punch-holes, two of four damaged. The manuscript has elisions, substitutions and additions by the author, indicating a lot of thinking, perhaps a desire to use a long word rather than a short. She attempts to analyse Spencer's (artistic) character and their relationship (including sexual). I have attached scans of two pages, 5 and 14 (the final page) to illustrate her subjects and re-thinking (elisions etc).

[ Julius Beerbohm, traveller and poet, half-brother of Max Beerbohm ] Manuscript Poem Signed J Beerbohm (calligraphically). See image.

Author: 
Julius Beerbohm [ Julius Beerbohm (1854 – 1906), Victorian travel-writer, engineer, explorer and poet.]
beerbohm
Publication details: 
No place, but dated by him 9 Sept. 90.
£220.00
beerbohm

32 line poem, cr.8vo, in a frame of an album page (detached), 4to, one ragged edge, celebrating summer, commencing: Is it not well, when the long day is over, | That brimmed with fulness of the summer time-| - Joy of wild bees that roam the the scented clover; [....] See image for full text. Verso: Sentiment by obscure German.

[Manuscript; Revenue; Customs & Excise ]] The Gross and Net Produce of all the Branches of the Revenue ...[full title below].

Author: 
[Her Majesty's Customs, 1710-1735]
Publication details: 
1710-1735
£450.00

[Full title] The Gross and Net Produce of all the Branches of the Revenue under the Management of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Customs in England. Together with an Adjustment of the Net Produce with the Payments into the Exchequer Annually from Christmas 1710. To which are prefixed the underwritten Acco[unts] viz[t] : 1. The Yearly Payments into the Receipt of Exchequer on all the several Branches of the Customs from Michaelmas 1679 to Christmas 1710. 2. The Payments into the Exchequer for prohibited uncustomed and forfeited goods Annually from Christmas 1701. 3.

[ Manuscript; auction ] Roup Roll of the Farm Stocking Household Furniture etc. sold at Findon 13 Nov. 1820.

Author: 
[ Findon, Aberdeenshire ]
Roup Roll
Publication details: 
[ Findon, Aberdeenshire, 13 November 1820
£80.00
Roup Roll

Five-page list of items, fold marks, some dusting, fair condition. Lots, Buyers and Prices (see image). From Scythe and rake to horses and potatoes.

[ Mrs Gore; 'silver fork' novels ] One leaf of the holograph manuscript of Sketches of English Character, with authorial corrections and additions.

Author: 
Mrs Gore [ Catherine Grace Frances Gore (née Moody, 1798–1861), 'silver fork' novelist and dramatist ]
Publication details: 
Book first published, 1846 in two volumes.
£300.00

Substantial part of pp. 226-7, in the section The Optimist and the Pessimist (vol.II, 1846). Two pages, 4to (19 x 20cm), crumpled, trimmed untidily, with several tears, many repaired as best they could.

[ Fanny Garrison; suffrage; black rights ] Autograph Poem signed Fannie Garrison with autograph verse signed by Francis Jackson] Garrison

Author: 
Fanny Garrison [Helen Frances “Fanny” Garrison Villard (1844–1928), American women's suffrage campaigner, pacifist, co-founder of National Association for the Advancement of Colored People].
Garrison
Publication details: 
{Fannie's verse} Boston, Oct.21, 1860; {Francis Jackson's verse} Boston, Oct.23, 1860.
£500.00
Garrison

One page, 12mo, very good condition. Text, a verse from Gerald Massey's To-Day and To-Morrow (see note below) as follows: [Fanny's quotation marks] Though hearts brood o'er the past, our eyes | With smiling features glisten, | For, lo! our day bursts up the skies! | Lean out your souls and listen! | The world rolls Freedom's radiant way, | And ripens with her sorrows; | Keep heart! who bears the cross to-day, | Shall wear the crown tomorrow. | Fannie Garrison. | Boston, Oct.21st, 1860 | [ 'Mrs Henry villard' in another hand ] || Why ask a name?

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